Page 259 of 429

4-29
If the water isn't too deep, then drive through it slowly.
At fast speeds, water splashes on your ignition system
and your vehicle can stall. Stalling can also occur if you
get your tailpipe under water. And, as long as your
tailpipe is under water, you'll never be able to start your
engine. When you go through water, remember that
when your brakes get wet, it may take you longer
to stop.
CAUTION:
Driving through rushing water can be dangerous.
Deep water can sweep your vehicle downstream
and you and your passengers could drown. If it's
only shallow water, it can still wash away the
ground from under your tires, and you could lose
traction and roll the vehicle over. Don't drive
through rushing water.
See ªDriving Through Waterº in the Index for more
information on driving through water.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has collected on the
underbody, chassis or under the hood. These
accumulations can be a fire hazard.
After operation in mud or sand, have the brake linings
cleaned and checked. These substances can cause
glazing and uneven braking. Check the body structure,
steering, suspension, wheels, tires and exhaust system
for damage. Also, check the fuel lines and cooling
system for any leakage.
Your vehicle will require more frequent service due to
off
-road use. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule for
additional information.
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4-37
The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are going
slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you're ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you're not fresh
-- such as after a day's
work
-- don't plan to make too many miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you
can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it's ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you'll find experienced and able service experts in GMC
dealerships all across North America. They'll be ready
and willing to help if you need it.Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full?
Are all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long
-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What's the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up
-to-date maps?
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4-38
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as ªhighway
hypnosisº? Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel?
Call it highway hypnosis, lack of awareness,
or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road with
the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the
road, the drone of the engine, and the rush of the wind
against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don't let it
happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave the
road in less than a second, and you could crash and
be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be
aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and
to the sides. Check your mirrors and your
instruments frequently.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service
or parking area and take a nap, get some exercise, or
both. For safety, treat drowsiness on the highway as
an emergency.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving in flat or rolling terrain.
Page 275 of 429

4-45 Dinghy Towing
When towing your vehicle, turn the ignition off.
To prevent your battery from draining while towing,
remove the Ignition A and the Ignition B fuses from the
engine compartment fuse block. Be sure to reinstall the
fuse when you reach your destination. See ªFuses and
Circuit Breakersº in the Index.
Tw o
-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Tw o
-wheel-drive vehicles, should not be towed with
all four wheels on the ground. Two
-wheel-drive
transmissions have no provisions for internal lubrication
while being towed. To properly tow these vehicles,
they should be placed on a platform trailer with all
four wheels off the ground.
In rare cases when it's unavoidable that a
two
-wheel-drive vehicle is to be towed with all
four wheels on the ground, the propeller shaft to
axle yoke orientation should be marked and the
propeller shaft removed following the applicable
service manual removal/installation procedure.
Dust or dirt can enter the back of the transmission
through the opening created by removing the propeller
shaft if proper protection is not provided. Also, check
the transmission fluid level before driving the truck.Four
-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Use the following procedure to tow your vehicle:
1. Firmly set the parking brake.
2. Shift the transmission to PARK (P).
3. Securely attach the vehicle being towed to the
tow vehicle.
Page 279 of 429

4-49 Electronically Controlled Air Suspension
System (If Equipped)
Your vehicle may be equipped with an electronically
controlled air suspension system that automatically
keeps your vehicle level as you load and unload. The
system includes a compressor, two height sensors and
two air springs supporting the rear axle.
The system also has an internal clock to prevent
overheating. If the system overheats, all leveling
function stops until the system cools down. During
this time, the indicator light on the air inflator system
will be flashing.
The ignition has to be on for the system to inflate, in
order to raise the vehicle to the standard ride height after
loading. The system can lower the vehicle to the
standard ride height after unloading with the ignition on
and also for up to 30 minutes after the ignition has been
turned off.
You may hear the compressor operating when you load
your vehicle, and periodically as the system adjusts the
vehicle to the standard ride height.
Load leveling will not function normally with the
inflator hose attached to the inflator outlet. Remove
the inflator hose from the outlet during loading
and unloading.Overload Protection
The air suspension system is equipped with overload
protection. Overload protection is designed to protect
the air suspension system, and it is an indicator to the
driver that the vehicle is overloaded. When the overload
protection mode is on, it will not allow damage to the
air compressor. However, do not overload the vehicle.
See ªLoading Your Vehicleº earlier in this section.
If the suspension remains at a low height, the rear axle
load has exceeded GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating).
When the overload protection mode is activated, the
compressor operates for about 30 seconds to one minute
without raising the vehicle depending on the amount
of overload. This will continue each time the ignition
is turned on until the rear axle load is reduced
below GAWR.
Indicator Light
The indicator light on the inflator switch in the rear
passenger compartment also serves as an indicator for
internal system error. If the indicator light is flashing
without the load leveling function or the inflator being
active, turn off the ignition. The next day turn on the
ignition and check the indicator light. The vehicle can
be driven with the light flashing, but if it is you should
have the vehicle serviced as soon as possible.
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4-59
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle won't move, even
when you're on fairly level ground, use the steps
that follow.
Always put the shift lever fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brake firmly set.
If the transfer case on four-wheel drive vehicles is
in NEUTRAL, your vehicle will be free to roll,
even if your shift lever is in PARK (P). So, be
sure the transfer case is in a drive gear
-- not
in NEUTRAL. See ªFour
-Wheel Drive
(Automatic Transfer Case)º in the Index.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
start your engine,
shift into a gear, and
release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you're
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transmission fluid (don't
overfill), engine oil, axle lubricant, belt, cooling system
and brake system. Each of these is covered in this
manual, and the Index will help you find them quickly.
If you're trailering, it's a good idea to review these
sections before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Page 290 of 429
4-60 Trailer Wiring Harness
Your vehicle is equipped with the seven-wire trailer
towing harness. This harness has a seven
-pin universal
heavy
-duty trailer connector that is attached to a bracket
on the hitch platform. The seven
-wire harness contains
the following trailer circuits:
Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn Signal
Brown: Running Lamps
White: Ground
Light Green: Back
-up Lamps
Red: Battery Feed
Dark Blue: Electric Brakes
If you need to tow a light
-duty trailer with a standard
four
-way round pin connector, an adapter connector is
available from your dealer.
Your vehicle is also equipped with wiring for an electric
trailer brake controller. These wires are located inside
the vehicle on the driver's side under the instrument
panel. These wires should be connected to an electric
trailer brake controller by your dealer or a qualified
service center.
Page 297 of 429
5-7
9. Connect the other end of
the negative (
-) cable to
the remote negative (
-)
terminal on the vehicle
with the dead battery.
10. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine for a while.
11. Try to start the vehicle that had the dead battery.
If it won't start after a few tries, it probably
needs service.
NOTICE:
Damage to your vehicle may result from
electrical shorting if jumper cables are removed
incorrectly. To prevent electrical shorting, take
care that they don't touch each other or any
other metal. The repairs wouldn't be covered by
your warranty.
Jumper Cable Removal
A. Heavy, Unpainted Metal Engine Part or Remote
Negative (
-) Terminal
B. Good Battery or Remote Positive (+) and Remote
Negative (
-) Terminals
C. Dead Battery or Remote Positive (+) Terminal